After four-year decline, percentage of female associates 'nudged up' in 2014
The percentage of female associates “finally nudged up” in 2014, following four years of slight declines, according to the National Associated for Law Placement.
According to a NALP press release (PDF), 44.94 percent of associates were female in 2014, compared to 44.79 percent in 2013. The 2014 number is still slightly below the ratio in 2009, when 45.66 percent of associates were female.
Also making slight percentage gains were women and minority partners, and minority associates. In 2014, 21.5 percent of partners were women and 7.33 percent were minority, while 21.63 percent of associates were minority.
“It’s good to see the numbers heading in the right direction again,” NALP executive director James Leipold said in the press release.“ The changes are incremental, but across every category that we measure, the national figures show that the representation of women and minorities at law firms increased from 2013 to 2014.”
Updated at 5:35 a.m. to change the word “amount” to “ratio” in the second paragraph.
